JD Martin wins awards, beats Gwinnett

In his final start of the regular season, former Burroughs baseball standout J.D. Martin pitched Durham to a road victory on Wednesday night. Martin allowed one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched as the Bulls defeated the Gwinnett Braves 5-1.

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Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

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Posted Aug. 30, 2013 at 3:52 PM

Posted Aug. 30, 2013 at 3:52 PM

In his final start of the regular season, former Burroughs baseball standout J.D. Martin pitched Durham to a road victory on Wednesday night. Martin allowed one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched as the Bulls defeated the Gwinnett Braves 5-1.

Martin allowed seven hits, struck out four batters and issued no walks to finish the regular season with a 16-4 record. The win was his second straight and sixth in his last eight starts.

Durham had a 2-0 lead before Martin stepped on the mound, and the lone run he allowed came in the fifth inning. The right-hander retired Gwinnett in order in four separate innings, and ended his appearance with a strikeout.

Martin extended his Durham franchise record for Triple-A wins in his 26th start of the season on Wednesday night. He finishes the regular season with a 2.77 ERA, 115 strikeouts and 25 walks in 159.1 innings pitched.

The victory capped a stellar regular season for Martin, and added to the accolades he received earlier in the week. On Tuesday he was named International League Most Valuable Pitcher and was honored with a Durham Bulls' Goodman Award as the team's co-Pitcher of the Year.

The International League announced its season awards Tuesday. Durham manager Charlie Montoyo won Manager of the Year, and Martin was joined on the postseason all-star team by Bulls' teammate Vince Belnome.

Martin was one of five players to win the Bulls' Goodmon Award, and shared Pitcher of the Year honors with closer Kirby Yates. The awards were announced Monday, and Martin was recognized before Durham's game against Charlotte on Tuesday night.

That hardware added to the 2013 collection for Martin, who helped lead Durham to the International League South title during the second half of the season. He has won International League Pitcher of the Week twice and was International League Player of the Month in July.

The regular season concludes Monday for International League South Division champion Durham, who will face West Division champion Indianapolis in the first round of the Governors' Cup Playoffs in a best-of-five series that starts on Wednesday. The other matchup features the North Division winner against a Wild Card team.

Martin is scheduled to pitch the second game of the series on Thursday, Sept. 5 in Indianapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.